 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-08-16 02:47
I decided in recent days that I'm going to audition for the guard for the division I drum & bugle corps the Dubuque Colts (<www.colts.org>). Come december, I'll attend camps one weekend a month, and spend almost all of next summer (10 weeks) touring the US and competing w/ the corps, culminating in the August DCI Finals, in which the Colts placed 12th, just a few days ago. I have enough colorguard and dance experience that theres no reason I shouldn't make it. I've recieved VERY positive responses from people that play in the Colts or have played with them in the past. I think this would be an awesome experience, as I really don't like marching w/ an instrument, but i LOVE colorguard. (I think the travelling all over and living and sleeping on a bus for 10 weeks, and living out of a suitcase for that amount of time would be an experience in itself) I just wondered if anybody here has any experience being a part of a drum and bugle corps...thanx
~Ashley~
PS- Before I get responses saying that if I was a serious clarinet player (my freshman year as a music education major starts in a week), I wouldn't have anything to do with this because it'll interefere with my practicing (which is true, I will have to go pretty much all summer without practicing. at all) and all that, I'd just like to say yes I realize this could and probably will have negative effects on my clarinet playing, but I'll deal with that. I mean shoot, I realize clarinet is life for some people, and it is a big part of my life, but its not ALL my life. I'm only 18. I gotta have some fun, and have some good times while theres good times to be had. Call that immaturaty or whatever, but I'm not going to miss great opportunities that present themselves now, but won't too far in the future, and not do things that I'll regret not doing 20 years from now. Thoughts on that?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-08-16 04:31
Don't have any experience with drums and bugles but lots of concert/marching band(s) as well as various other music related things. As opportunities presented themselves I took advantage of them. Why shouldn't you? The more variety, the more rounded you become. Some things I did were quite enjoyable and as unrelated to music as one can get. Some of my present interests are totally un-music related. I don't feel I'm any worse off for it. At 18, you have a lot of living to do. You don't sound at all immature, Ashley. Go for it.
- ron b -
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Author: William
Date: 2001-08-16 16:44
I marched (solo sop. bugle) with a mid-western D&B corps and spent many post graduate years on the contest judging circuit, judging musical analysis, execution and general effect at the state and national level. During two seasons, I also wrote the arrangements for our local scout D&B corps and served as bugle instructor, but had to give it up due to my local school teaching responsiblities. Lots of my band students were also members of the corps, and it was kind of nice to see them "outside" of the classroom, but being a full time band and orchestra teacher demands too much time (as does arranger and bugle instructor) for "double duty." During those years, my clarinet playing kind of took second place to my adjudication duties on weekends, during the year (traveling to judges clinics) and especially during the summer when contest activity is an every week afair. Most professional playing gigs occure on weekends and my D&B activities made it very difficult to belong to orchestras or bands with any regularity. I was devoted to the activity of drum and bugle corps, made a fair amount of money and created lots of happy memories having mostly fun--except during after-show critiques with often irrate bugle instructors who all felt their units should have won the show. But, in the "retrospect" of adult years, I now wish that I had devoted more time to my professional playing career and less time "to the corps." "How much better a clarinetist would I have been?" is the nagging question. And that is something that you should keep in mind as you march your " " off with the Colts. My recommendeation is to go for it and enjoy, but keep in mind that while marching will be an intense, goal oriented, all-consuming experiance, it is ultimately a "dead end" profession from which you must retire at 21--unless, of course, you judge or teach beyond that. (I did, but I think now I made a mistake) Good luck with your choices, and Good Clarineting!!! (except while your are "flagging" for the Colts--judged them many times)
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